Honor Your Neighbor While You Party

Portland, Ore- This weekend, dozens of teens (of all ages) were the apparently involved in various parties which translated into disturbances for some. It was a super full moon, solstice weekend after all, and it appears that many were in the mood to celebrate, though it’s a good idea to honor your neighbors while you party. The Portland Police Bureau reports the following:

On Saturday June 22, 2013, at approximately 10:30 p.m., East Precinct officers responded to the report of a large disturbance in the area of Southeast 72nd Avenue and Flavel Street. Callers to 9-1-1 were reporting that a group of teens, ranging from 20 to 100, were blocking traffic on 72nd Avenue and that some in the group randomly assaulted a man walking along the sidewalk.

Officers arrived in the area and contacted a 56-year-old man who told police that he was walking along the sidewalk when a group of 5-6 teens ran over to him and that one of the teens punched him in the face. A witness described the suspect as an African American male in his early 20s, wearing a white baseball cap, white t-shirt and dark blue jeans.

Officers believe the group of rowdy teens were connected with a house party at the La Hacienda Apartments, located at 7920 Southeast 72nd Avenue.

At approximately 11:00 p.m., East Precinct officers responded to the report of a large disturbance at Southeast 122nd Avenue and Holgate Street. Officers arrived in the area and saw a group of approximately 100 teenagers in the street blocking traffic. Officers determined that the group was associated with a house party in the area.

Officers from the Transit Police Division and the Gang Enforcement Team responded to assist East Precinct officers with clearing the crowd out of the street and restore order to the neighborhood. The crowd continued to be rowdy as they walked northbound on 122nd Avenue. When the crowd reached Division, someone in the crowd started throwing rocks at police cars. Officers were unable to determine who threw the rocks and maintained a large police presence until the crowd dispersed out of the neighborhood.

Based on available information, it does not appear that these two incidents are related.

The Portland Police Bureau is encouraging residents to notify police when disturbances occur in their neighborhoods.

The Portland Police Bureau would like to remind parents of the Portland City Code 14A.90.010 (Curfew), which states that for minors under the age of 14, summer curfew is between 10:15 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. For minors 14 to 17, curfew is from 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.

Next time you are in the mood to celebrate, make sure you take care to honor those around you, including your neighbors and keep your rock throwing to ponds and oceans. It’s positive to gather with friends and ride the energy of such a powerful weekend, though with increased energy comes increased responsibility for the awareness you carry. So further weekend and even daily ‘parties’ don’t translate into disturbances for those around you – take care to notice how you are being received by the environment, and if need be, make some shifts. It isn’t about accommodating those around you as much as being aware that we are all part of one unit – as neighborhoods, communities and a world of people co-existing together with the desire for harmony.